Device for supporting books



Nov. 3, 1959 w. J. KUNKLER DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING BOOKS Filed Nov 23, 1956 INVENTOR W/Z-LI IM KZ/IYKLER 4,104 Maw A TTORNE Y5 v Pym United States Pat DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING BOOKS William J. Kunkler, Columbus, Ohio Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 623,853

A 5 Claims. (Cl. 21143) The present invention relates to an improved device for supporting. books or the like.

In general, the present invention comprises a device adapted to be placed on a table or desk and used in place of conventional book ends. The device includes a base that movably carries two upstanding members adapted to move one relative to the other so that books or the like can be supported on the base between the members. A spring means is connected between the upstanding members to urge one towards the other and, in addition, the base and upstanding members carry magnetic elements arranged to retain the upstanding members in spaced relationship when such is desired. As an additional novel feature the upstanding members are removably secured to the base by removable keys or retainers, which can also be utilized as means for connecting the spring means to the upstanding members and which can also be utilized as a portion of the abovementioned elements. i

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described that incorporates movable upstanding members with a mechanism that selectively either urges said members one towards the flanges 35 of retainers 32 and serves to urge upstanding other or maintains said members in spaced relationship.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described that can be readily assembled or disassembled without the use of tools whereby economy is achieved in packaging and shipping quantities of the item.

Further objects and advantages of the present inven.

tion will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

Figure 1 is an elevational view partially in section (if a book supporting device constructed according to the present invention, the section being taken along the line 11 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1, the section being taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is partial sectional view of the device of the preceding figures, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of the preceding figures.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in Figure 4 the device of the present invention is shown to include a base 20 that movably supports a pair of upstanding members indicated generally at '22 and 23. Base 20 includes two slots 25 and 26 that slidably carry shoulders 28 extended downwardly from the bottoms of upstanding members 22 and 23.

Each of the shoulders 28 is grooved at 30 to receive a retainer or key 32 that includes legs 33 and 34, a downturned flange 35 and an open end. As viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the left end of the right retainer 32 and the right end of the left retainer 32 each forms the 'ice open end of a slot in the retainer whereby the retainer can be inserted into a groove 30 in a respective shoulder. A tension spring 38 is connected between downturned of recess 42 by suitable fastening means such as screws The retainers or keys 32 are formed of metal, such as iron, which possesses magnetic characteristics such that when members 22 and 23 are moved apart along the guide means formed by slots 25 and 26 to the extent that metallic retainers 32.engage magnets 43 then the members 22and 23 will be retained in such spaced configuration as is indicated by dotted delineation .at 22-A and 23-A in Figure 1.

In operation, the members 22 and 23 are assembled on base 20, by inserting shoulders 28 through slots 25 and 26 and the retainers or keys 32 are then inserted into grooves 30. Spring 38 is next connected between flanges 35 whereby the retainers 32 are maintained in the grooves. When it is desired to load the device with books or the like the members 22 and 23 are moved apart until metallic retainers 32 engage magnets 43. The action of the magnets 43 serves to keep members 22 and 23 spaced apart, against the action of spring 38 until contact between retainers 32 and magnets 43 is manually broken. The members 22 and 23 will then be drawn one towards the other and against the books lying between the members. The members 22 and 23 hold the books in an upright position at all times, and as a book is being removed from the platform the members 22 and 23 are drawn inward by the spring.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention is herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all

coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting books or the like comprising, in combination, means forming a base; guide means on said base; a first upstanding member supported on said base; a second upstanding member supported by said base, both of said members being movable along said guide means from positions of confronting relationship to positions of spaced relationship; spring means connected between said two members for urging same one towards the other; a first magnetic means on said base and engageably retaining one of said upstanding members when said one member is disposed in spaced relationship; and a second magnetic means on said base and engageably retaining the other of said upstanding members when said other member is disposed in spaced relationship.

2. Apparatus for supporting books or the like comprising, in combination, means forming a base; guide means on said base formed by a longitudinally extending slots; a first upstanding member supported on said base; a second upstanding member supported on said base, each of said members being movable along said guide means; means for urging said upstanding members one towards the other; means carried by said base for maintaining either or both of said members in spaced relationship; means forming a shoulder extending downwardly from said movable upstanding members and through said slot; and a member removably carried by a lower end of said shoulder and extended outwardly therefrom beyond said slot at the edges thereof.

3. Apparatus for supporting books or the like comprising, in combination, means forming a base; guide means on said base formed by a longitudinally extending slot; a first upstanding member supported on said base; a second upstanding member supported on said base, at least one of said members being movable along said guide means; means carried by said base for maintaining said members in spaced relationship; means forming a shoulder extending downwardly from said movable upstanding member and through said slot, a retaining member removably carried on said shoulder and extended beyond an edge of said slot; and spring means connected to .said retaining member for moving said upstanding member along said guide means and for maintaining said retai11 ing member on said shoulder.

4. Apparatus for supporting books or the like comprising, in combination, means forming a base and including a metallic element; guide means on said base formed by a longitudinally extending slot; a first upstanding member supported on said base; a second upstanding member supported on said base, at least one of said members being movable along said guide means; a second metallic element carried by said movable upstanding member and engageable With said metallic element on said base, certain of said elements being magnetic for maintaining said engagement therewith; means forming a shoulder extending downwardly from said movable upstanding member and through said slot; a member removably carried by the lower end of said shoulder and edges thereof; and spring means connected to said removable member for moving said movable upstanding member along said guide means and for retaining said removable member on the lower end of said shoulder.

5. Apparatus for supporting books or the like comprising, in combination, means forming a base including a metallic element; guide means on said base formed by a longitudinally extending slot; a first upstanding member supported on said base; a second upstanding member supported on said base, each of said members being movable along said guide means; spring means for urging said upstanding members one towards the other; means carried by said base for maintaining said members in spaced relationship; means forming a shoulder extending downwardly from each of said upstanding members and through said slot; and a metallic element removably carried by said shoulder Within said base and extended outwardly therefrom beyond said slot at the edges thereof, certain of said elements being magnetic for maintaining said members in said spaced relationship against the action of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,582 Wheeler June 19, 1928 2,521,885 Vasquez Sept. 12, 1950 2,781,151 Campbell Feb. 12, 1957 

